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Officials Offer City-Owned Sites To Crew SC

The city of Columbus is trying to keep talks with Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt open, offering two city owned parks as possible sites for a new soccer stadium.  

Mayor Andrew Ginther released today a letter written to Precourt that offered the 200-acre Berliner Park on the southside, or Dodge Recreation Center, a 16-acre riverfront property in Franklinton, as possible sites for a new stadium for the Crew SC.  

The letter, co-signed by Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer, repeated the offer to renovate the teams current home on the state fairgrounds, and offered to work with private investors to help develop an entertainment district around a stadium site.  

Ginther says the letter also discussed possible ownership scenarios that include a 50-50 or minority partnership with local partners, and shared ownership based on the Green Bay Packers model.  

Precourt announced in October that he was considering moving the team to Austin, Texas, citing lack of corporate attendance and an aging stadium.  City officials met with Precourt at Major League Soccer headquarters earlier this month. Both sides say they were disappointed with the conversation. 
 
For the full text of the letter, click here.
 

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.
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